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Former Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> guitarist Jake E. Lee<\/a> maintains his best-ever work was the self-titled debut album from his next band, Badlands.<\/p>\n The record has been unavailable for decades, which Lee claimed was the result of a punishment by his record label following a dispute.<\/p>\n And in a recent interview with Guitar World<\/em><\/a> he said that was the reason he\u2019d kept a low profile for nearly 20 years, before returning with Red Dragon Cartel in 2013.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>Jake E. Lee At Crossroads After Making Peace With Ozzy Osbourne<\/a><\/p>\n \u201c[W]ith Badlands<\/em> \u2013 as far as creativity, working with other musicians, and having a band unit \u2013 that was as good as it ever got,\u201d Lee said. \u201cThe first time I listened back in \u201989 and heard the finished product, I didn\u2019t know if it was going to sell, but I knew it was really, really good. I knew it was, to me, perfect.<\/p>\n \u201cI worked really hard on the songs, and I was there for everybody while recording. I was there for the mixes, and I thought\u2026 it was a beautiful piece of art. It\u2019s too bad you can\u2019t get it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked why that\u2019s the case, he blamed late Atlantic Records boss Ahmet Ertegun, who he said reacted powerfully to a falling-out with Badlands singer Ray Gillen. \u201cThere\u2019s been so many theories\u2026 but it was his decree.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly what [was] said, but Ahmet was so upset with Ray \u2013 and this is what I\u2019ve heard from people that would know \u2013 and he made a decree and said, \u2018We\u2019re burying Badlands. I don\u2019t ever want them to see the light of day again. They\u2019re history.\u2019 And he was the man. It was his record company.\u201d<\/p>\n Saying he\u2019d been \u201creally happy\u201d with his career up to that moment in 1993, Lee continued: \u201cWhen it all folded, I was just so heartbroken that I didn\u2019t want to do anything anymore. There was a period of a decade where I wasn\u2019t doing anything. It was because I was just so heartbroken over what happened with Badlands.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee \u2013 who returned to music sporadically in the 21st century before forming Red Dragon Cartel \u2013 expressed hope that Badlands<\/em> could be reissued, although he said time was running out to make it happen. \u201cI imagine that someday\u2026 someone will say, \u2018We\u2019ve punished them enough. There\u2019s potential for making money here because lots of people would love to see that album out again.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n And he revealed: \u201cThere might be one thing, but I\u2019ve gotta act on it fast. There might be one way where I can get the masters, and I really need to start working on that because that\u2019s it. There\u2019s a deadline on that.\u201d<\/p>\n Gallery Credit: Ultimate Classic Rock Staff<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nOzzy Osbourne Albums Ranked <\/h2>\n